Blood on the valley’s trails: Pahalgam terror attack rekindles Jammu and Kashmir’s darkest memories
NEW DELHI: Terror struck at the heart of Kashmir’s tourist belt once again on Tuesday, as militants opened fire on a crowded site in Pahalgam, killing at least 28 people, including two foreign nationals from the UAE and Nepal, and two locals. The incident, which also left dozens injured, has reignited memories of the valley’s most brutal attacks on civilians over the past three decades. The assault, carried out at one of south Kashmir’s most visited locations, comes just months after the deadly June 2024 attack in Reasi, where pilgrims en route to Vaishno Devi were targeted. Officials described Tuesday’s attack as the deadliest on civilians in recent years. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who landed in Delhi shortly after the attack, held an emergency meeting with NSA Ajit Doval and external affairs minister S Jaishankar at the airport itself. Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah called the attack “much larger than anything we’ve seen directed at civilians in recent years.” J&K terror attack: Live Updates Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi said he had spoken with home minister Amit Shah, the J&K chief minister, and Congress leader Tariq Karra to understand the situation. “The families of the victims deserve justice and our fullest support. Hollow claims of normalcy must now give way to concrete action,” Gandhi said. This is not the first time Pahalgam has found itself in the crosshairs. From the abduction of six foreign tourists in 1995, one of whom was later killed, to the 2000 Nunwan base camp massacre that left 32 dead, including Amarnath pilgrims and local vendors, the region has seen more than its share of bloodshed. A pattern of pain The valley’s history is pockmarked with chilling incidents: March 2000, 36 Sikhs were massacred in Chittisinghpora on the eve of President Clinton’s visit. Aug 2002, 9 Amarnath pilgrims were killed in an attack at the Nunwan camp. July 2017, seven Amarnath pilgrims, mostly from Gujarat, were killed in Anantnag. June 2024, a Vaishno Devi-bound bus came under fire in Reasi, killing 10 and injuring 33. From fidayeen assaults on temples to grenade attacks on buses, the targets have mostly remained the same: pilgrims, tourists, migrant workers, and minority communities. As the nation mourns yet another tragedy, pressure is mounting on the Centre and state administration to move beyond statements and deliver actionable security reforms. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news was originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Pahalgam terrorist attack: Search operation under way, J&K on high alert – Top development
NEW DELHI: At least 28 people were killed after terrorists opened fire in group of tourists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The gruesome terror attack in Pahalgam is one of the biggest terror attacks after the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019. According to survivors, 6 foreign terrorists dressed in Army fatigues, identified their victims by faith asking them to tell their names and recite Islamic verses before spraying bullets on them from close range. Here are the top development PM Modi holds key meeting Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday landed in Delhi after cutting his two-day Saudi Arabia trip short. Immediately after touching down, PM Modi chaired a key meet with national security advisor Ajit Doval, EAM S Jaishankar and others to discuss the situation in view of the Pahalgam terror attack. Follow live updates Meanwhile, finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman also preponed her arrival in India from her official visit to the US and Peru. Sitharaman arrived in the US on Sunday for a six-day visit, after which she was scheduled to travel to Peru for a five-day trip. Rahul speaks with Amit Shah, CM Omar Abdullah Lok Sabha LoP Rahul Gandhi spoke to Union home minister Amit Shah and took stock of the situation after the terror attack In a social media post on X, the Congress leader said that he has also spoken to chief minister Omar Abdullah and J&K pradesh Congress committee president Tariq Karra over the attack and advocated justice and support for the victims. “Spoke with HM Amit Shah, J&K CM Omar Abdullah, and J&K PCC president Tariq Karra about the horrific Pahalgam terror attack. Received an update on the situation. The families of victims deserve justice and our fullest support,” Rahul said. The Congress on Tuesday had asked the government to take accountability for the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir instead of making “hollow claims” on the situation being normal in the Union Territory, and demanded that an all-party meeting be called to take political parties into confidence. The opposition party denounced the terror attack as a blot on humanity and said it should not go “unanswered effectively.” Search operation under way, J&K on high alert Security forces carried out a major manhunt, combing the area to track down the terrorists responsible. “The search operation is currently in progress, with all efforts focused on bringing the attackers to justice,” the Indian army’s Chinar Corps said in a statement overnight. Security has been beefed up since the attack, with streets being deserted in the usually bustling tourist area. Additionally, security forces and forensic team also conducted search operation at the Baisaran picnic spot in Pahalgam. Defence officials told that Indian Army ALH Dhruv helicopters have been allowed to fly in the areas around Srinagar, J&K and adjoining areas in view of the ongoing counter-terrorism operations. Army foils infiltration bid in Baramulla Meanwhile, the security forces also foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control in Baramulla. According to Indian Army, terrorists tried to infiltrate through general area Sarjeevan at Baramulla’s Uri Nala. “On 23 Apr 2025, approximately 2-3 UI terrorists tried to infiltrate through general area Sarjeevan at Uri Nala, Baramulla (in north Kashmir),” Chinar Corps said in a post on X. The alert troops on the LoC challenged and intercepted the infiltrators, resulting in a firefight, the army said. “The operation is in progress,” it added. Kashmir bandh In response to the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, several political parties in Jammu and Kashmir have extended their support to the call for a Kashmir Bandh (shutdown) on Wednesday to condemn the attack and show solidarity with the victims’ families. Jammu and Kashmir National Conference (JKNC) has appealed to the people to make the Bandh a “complete success” and join in condemning the Pahalgam terror attack. In a social media post on X, JKNC wrote, “On the instruction of the Party President, JKNC joins the collective call for a bandh in strong condemnation of the Pahalgam terror attack. We appeal to the people of J&K to ensure the hartal called by religious and social leaders is a complete success.” Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chief Mehbooba Mufti has expressed solidarity with the victims’ families and supported the shutdown, calling it an “attack on all of us.” “The Chamber and Bar Association Jammu has called for a complete shutdown tomorrow in protest against the horrific militant attack on tourists. I appeal all Kashmiris to unite in solidarity to support this bandh as a mark of respect for the innocent lives lost in the brutal assault in Pahalgam. This isn’t just an attack on a select few–it is an attack on all of us. We stand together in grief and outrage & strongly support this shutdown to condemn the massacre of innocents,” Mufti posted on X. Tourists flee Kashmir Following the attacks, a wave of fear and uncertainty has gripped tourists as many of them vacated hotels in Srinagar, Anantnag and Gulmarg. Chandrakant Kale, an IMD official from Pune, had just left Pahalgam with his wife moments before the attack. “We came to know about it while we were on the way to Srinagar. I felt totally shaken,” Kale said over the phone. Pune-based lawyer Vijaysinh Thombare, currently in Srinagar with his wife NCP neta Rupali Patil-Thombare, said tourists are alarmed and eager to leave. “Most of us are scared and want to leave J&K as soon as possible,” he said. “We were at Pahalgam Sunday, then moved to Gulmarg the following day. Today, we were enjoying a gondola ride when soldiers instructed all tourists to vacate and return to hotels,” he added. Many tourists in Pahalgam and surrounding areas left for Srinagar, vacating hotels. “They panicked and didn’t want to stay,” a hotelier said. However, they couldn’t proceed to Jammu due to the highway being closed because of landslides. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news was originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human
‘Minority communities must take care of each other’: Mamata urges people to maintain peace after Murshidabad violence
Urging people not to trust the BJP and its allies, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleged that they want to incite riots. Kolkata: Alleging that the BJP and the RSS initiated a “vicious false campaign” in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the people to maintain peace, and stated that the majority and the minority communities must take care of each other. Referring to the violence in Murshidabad, Banerjee said “these forces” were using the backdrop of “an unfortunate incident” that happened “on provocation” to play divisive politics. “BJP and its allies have suddenly become very aggressive in West Bengal. These allies include RSS. I have not taken the RSS’s name earlier, but I am being forced now to identify them. Together, they all have initiated a vicious false campaign in the State,” she alleged in the open letter, which was made public late in the night. “These forces are using the backdrop of an unfortunate incident that happened on provocation. They are using the backdrop to play divisive politics. They are planning to play the ‘divide and rule’ game. This is sinister,” she added. Asserting that the “criminals” behind the riots are being strongly dealt with, Banerjee said that at the same time “mutual mistrust and distrust” must be avoided. “The majority and the minority communities must work together and take care of each other,” she said. “They had originally planned to use the Ram Navami day for playing with fire, but the Ram Navami celebrations in West Bengal have been most peaceful. Then they tried to use some subsequent matters relating to the agitations against the Waqf (Amendment) Act,” she alleged. Urging people not to trust the BJP and its allies, she alleged that they want to incite riots. “…riots can affect everyone. We love all. We want to stay together. We condemn riots. We are against riots. They want to divide us for some narrow electoral politics,” she said. The CM said she has taken “strong actions” for maintaining law and order and saving human lives and dignity. “Two police officers-in-charge have been removed. Police is investigating. Further actions are being taken. Please remember that riots are created neither by Hindus, nor by Muslims, riots are engineered by criminals. Strict actions will be taken against all criminals. No one will be spared,” she said. Banerjee claimed that protest rallies are not allowed in the BJP-ruled UP, Bihar, MP and Rajasthan, but no such anti-Constitutional dispensation is there in West Bengal. “When they use bulldozers in UP, agony comes. In contrast, in West Bengal, when someone suffers, we help. That is our approach in West Bengal. No community will be disturbed or adversely affected in West Bengal. We strongly condemn such disturbances,” she said. “Those who create riots always come from outside and then go away. We from inside have to now fight against their bad deeds. We shall together survive and win,” she said. Banerjee said her “detractors”, the BJP, want to divert people’s attention from the burning problem of price rise, and hence they have taken recourse to “inflammatory propaganda”. “Jealousy has no cure. The jealous cannot go beyond their narrow vision. Our detractors do not want employment, development, creativity – their only interest is to ensure price rise, to enhance costs of medicines, hospital charges and insurance premium, to increase the price of petrol, diesel and even domestic cooking gas,” she said. “Finally, my appeal to everyone again is: stay calm, stay united. Do not give in to mistrust and distrust. Do not be diverted by their false communal rhetoric,” she said. Three people were killed, several others injured, and numerous properties were vandalised during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad last week. Courtesy : News Nine Note: This news is originally published on https://newsnine.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
‘Nitish changes parties just for kursi’: Kharge targets BJP and JD(U) alliance
NEW DELHI: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday launched a sharp attack on Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and the BJP during a rally in Buxar, calling their alliance “opportunistic” and accusing Kumar of frequently switching sides solely to hold onto power. “Nitish Kumar changes parties just for ‘kursi’. He has once again joined hands with the same ideology that was responsible for Mahatma Gandhi’s death,” Kharge said. The Congress chief accused the BJP-JD(U) government of failing Bihar’s people and claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had failed to deliver on his 2015 promise of a Rs 1.25 lakh crore special package for the state. “People of Bihar must ask, where is that money? Modi ji is running a factory of lies,” Kharge said. He also alleged that the BJP and RSS were against the poor, women, and marginalised communities, claiming that their policies are designed to divide society along caste and religious lines. — INCIndia (@INCIndia) Referring to the recent Waqf (Amendment) Bill, Kharge claimed it was another example of BJP-RSS conspiracies to polarise communities. “It is a deliberate attempt to create a wedge between groups,” he said, while urging people to see through what he described as misleading narratives. Kharge also invoked Bihar’s rich legacy, saying it was the land of enlightenment and struggle — from Buddha’s penance to Mahatma Gandhi’s Satyagraha in Champaran. “Many great leaders, reformers, and freedom fighters came from this soil. Now, we are here with the ‘Jai Bapu, Jai Bhim, Jai Samvidhan’ rally, saluting the spirit of Bihar,” he said. His visit comes just months ahead of the assembly elections, where the Congress, in alliance with the RJD and Left parties under the ‘Mahagathbandhan’, is set to challenge the BJP-led NDA. Kharge’s rally followed Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Begusarai earlier this month, where he also criticised the Centre during a ‘Samvidhan Suraksha Sammelan’ and marched under the banner of ‘Palayan Roko, Naukri Do’. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Race for Dalit outreach intensifies in Uttar Pradesh
Add YoWhile the SP is pitching its PDA formula as a forum for Dalit upliftment against the ruling BJP, the BSP says the SP is the extreme casteist partyur Heading Text Here The race for outreach towards Dalits intensified among the Opposition players in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday (April 20, 2025) with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleging that the State was on top of atrocities committed against the Dalit community. The SP chief is pitching his PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) formula as a forum for Dalit upliftment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. “Uttar Pradesh is number one on atrocities on Dalits. A Dalit was burnt to death in Prayagraj. Our PDA platform is a forum to connect people from all communities, especially focused on marginalised groups. If BJP had won 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, then today rifles and swords would have been waving on the streets,” said Mr. Yadav, addressing media in Prayagraj. Samajwadi Party can never be ‘true well-wisher’ of Dalits due to flaws in its intentions, policies: Mayawati Putting up data claiming lesser representation of PDA, meaning Pichhda, Dalits and Alpsankhyak, acronym for Backwards, Dalit and Minority, in key officials’ postings in districts, he said, “total postings in Agra are 48, out of which PDA is 15, in Mainpuri out of 15 key officials, representation of PDA is three. Prayagraj will also have similar data,” he alleged, hinting at caste-based postings. Mr. Yadav accused the BJP of neglecting officials hailing from PDA social groups in key government postings. On the other hand, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati cautioned the Dalit community and hit out particularly at the SP alleging that like the Congress and the BJP, it could never become a true well-wisher of Dalits-Bahujans. Calling the SP as extreme casteist party, recalling the infamous 1995 Lucknow guest house incident, the BSP leader called it a murderous attack on herself and described the previous SP government renaming new districts and educational institutions created in honour of Dalit icons as acts that are impossible to forgive by the community. Mayawati cautions Dalits amid SP outreach, terms statements as politics of narrow selfishness “Like Congress, BJP etc., SP too, far from doing any real welfare and upliftment of the Bahujans, especially the Dalits, by giving them their constitutional rights, has no sympathy for the community. The SP’s betrayal of BSP, murderous attack on its leadership on June 2, tearing the Bill on reservation in promotion in Parliament, changing the names of new districts, parks, educational and medical colleges created in honour of their (Dalit) saints, gurus and great men etc. are such blatant casteist acts which are impossible to forgive,” she wrote on X. She added, “While BSP has been successful to a great extent in its mission of eliminating the caste system through its continuous efforts, the SP is trying in every way to spoil it for the fulfillment of its narrow political interests. People must be cautious,”. Reacting sharply to the statement by Ms. Mayawati, the SP said the party was the most potent opposition political force in the State fighting against atrocities committed on Dalits and raising the community’s concerns democratically across all platforms. Fight for the Dalit vote hots up in Uttar Pradesh “If you look at the parliamentary proceedings, our party raised issues of Dalit and marginalised interests continuously and forcefully, which shows our commitment to social justice, and it has sent a positive message among the marginalised sections. We stood on our promise made in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, about fighting with all our might for the deprived sections and not allowing any constitutional amendments that might jeopardise the interests of the minorities, and Dalits. The BSP’s discomfort stems from the success of the SP outreach and Akhilesh Yadav Ji’s appeal among Dalits and youth”, said Ram Pratap Singh, SP spokesperson. ‘Dalits key to outcome’ Analysts point out that the outreach is aimed at getting traction of the community, which is in high numbers in Uttar Pradesh. “With approximately 21% population, Dalit electorate is the most pivotal vote in Uttar Pradesh, key to any electoral outcome, all parties be it the BJP, the SP, the BSP and the Congress are making efforts to gain traction with this key community. But the bitter truth remains that even after 75 years of Independence, no political party has a solution or a road map to uplift the Dalits, making the community still untouchable,” said Ajit Kumar Jha, veteran political analyst. Courtesy : Mayank Kumar, The Hindu Note: This news is originally published on https://thehindu.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Plea filed with NGT over illegal mining in land alloted to Dalits
Add Hyderabad: A petition was filed with the National Green Tribunal (NGT) Southern Zone Bench in Chennai seeking action against the alleged illegal mining of red soil and gravel in about 900 acres of land allotted to Dalits in the Peddapuram constituency of Kakinada district, Andhra Pradesh. The bench has numbered the petition, and it is awaiting hearing.Your Heading Text Here The petitioner, Karri Venkata Ramana, a resident of Peddapuram, alleged that the illegal mining activity had been rampant for over a decade. “The ruling and opposition parties vowed to stop it, but nothing much happened. This resulted in a gross violation of legal and constitutional safeguards, significant environmental degradation, and a threat to the livelihood of local farmers in Rameshwaram, Surampalem, Anuru, Kondapalli, and Gundlametta Hill,” he said in his petition. Venkata Ramana alleged that the entire activity was carried out by local politicians and the sand mafia in the area, in connivance with the authorities concerned. Mining unsanctioned areas He said that even though soil excavation was allowed only up to 200 metres in the permitted sites, the miners were excavating up to 400 metres deep and in areas very close to human habitation. The petitioner said that in the past, the district collector and other authorities inspected the area and found that illegal mining was taking place. “They warned of stringent action, including criminal cases under the provisions of the SC & ST Act, but nothing has changed and the illegal mining continues unabated,” alleged Venkata Ramana. The petition also alleged that those involved in illegal mining claimed to be excavating soil for highway construction and had obtained letters of intent from private contractors to justify their activities. However, instead of restricting their activities to official projects, they were illegally excavating soil from layouts and private land and selling it for huge sums. “This practice not only violates environmental regulations, but also causes permanent damage to fertile agricultural land, rendering it unfit for cultivation,” he alleged. He also claimed that farmers whose livelihoods depend on growing crops such as cashew nuts and mangoes are unable to continue farming because of the pollution caused by mining. Taking advantage of this, the mining mafia started deceiving the Dalit farmers with false promises of high returns and, in some cases, coercing them into relinquishing their lands under the threat of invoking the Land Acquisition Act, 2013, the petition alleged. Stringent action against violators Seeking urgent attention to the matter to prevent further exploitation of the land and to ensure justice for the affected farmers, Venkata Ramana appealed to the NGT to direct the AP govt, Kakinada district collector, AP forest department, department of mines and geology, Union ministry of environment, forest and climate change, and central pollution control board to conduct a joint and comprehensive investigation into the issue of illegal mining in Peddapuram and surrounding areas. He urged them to initiate stringent action against the violators and protect the lands of Dalit farmers from illegal miners. He also urged the bench to issue directions for compliance with the mining and environmental protection rules to prevent further damage to the area. Courtesy : TOI Note: This news is originally published on https://timesofindia.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
14-year-old Dalit boy thrashed, humiliated before panchayat on theft charge
A 14-year-old Dalit boy was allegedly thrashed by a resident of Nizampura village falling under Jandiala Guru police station here. According to his family, the boy and his kin were also humiliated before the village panchayat The incident came to light when a video went viral and the matter reached the Commission for Scheduled Castes which recommended the registration of a criminal case in this regard. In the FIR, Jyoti, mother of the victim, alleged that her son was mentally challenged and it was usual for him to enter houses in the village. She said that on April 16, at around 11 pm, he entered the house of Gurinder Singh as he was hungry. He said Gurinder Singh brutally thrashed him. The next day, he was again beaten up with a stick in front of the village panchayat during which he sustained a head injury. She alleged that though some residents tried to broker a compromise, she wanted to register an FIR against the accused. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of BNS and Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act against Gurinder Singh. Victor Singh, investigating officer in the case, said that the accused was arrested and further probe was on. Karamjit Gill, general secretary, Gian Ashram Paavan Valmiki Tirath, condemned the incident and said that the village panchayat should not have allowed the humiliation of the family. He alleged that the family was even asked to leave the village. Gill said it was due to their intervention that the family returned to the village. On the other hand, members of the village panchayat refuted the allegations and said that the boy was a habitual offender and was involved in theft incidents in the village. The panchayat did not lodge a police complaint earlier as it would have made him a bigger criminal, said Harpreet Singh, a member of the village panchayat. He alleged that in the incident that took place, the boy had entered the house late at night with the intention of committing theft. Seeking a high-level probe into the matter, he urged senior police officials to investigate the matter properly and ensure justice. Courtesy : Article By PK Jaiswar, The Tribune Note: This news is originally published on https://thetribune.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
“Rape of a Dalit girl is not such a big deal…” Controversy over another statement by Ramjilal Suman after Rana Sanga
Agra News: Samajwadi Party MP Suman, who is seeking power through the Dalit community in the name of PDA, is once again in the headlines. This time he has given the statement on the rape of a daughter of the Dalit community. Agra: The protest against the controversial statement given by SP’s Rajya Sabha MP from Agra Ramjilal Suman on Rana Sanga has not stopped yet. Meanwhile, another statement of his has come into the headlines. On the incident of rape of a Dalit girl in Kheragarh, Ramjilal Suman says that this is not such a big issue that Akhilesh Yadav has to come to meet him. He gave this statement when he himself has come to meet the victim’s family. What is the whole matter? A Dalit girl was raped in a village in Kheragarh on the night of 17 April. It is being told that the girl’s father had gone to a feast. At night, Omvir Lodhi, a resident of the same village, picked up the sleeping girl. He raped her 500 meters away from the village. The police identified him from the footage of the CCTV camera. The accused had absconded. But leaders of many parties including BJP reached to meet the victim’s family. What did Ramlilal Suman say? After this, the matter escalated. The police arrested the accused from Fatehpur Sikri. Ramjilal Suman, who came to meet the victim’s family, met the girl’s father and grandfather. After that, attacking the BJP government, he said that somewhere Dalit wedding processions are being stopped, somewhere Baba Saheb’s statue is being broken. Rape cases are increasing. Akhilesh’s statement on meeting the victims goes viral When Ramjilal Suman was asked whether Akhilesh Yadav will come to meet the victim’s family, he said, “Why do you talk like a child? I and our party’s general secretary have come. This is not such a big issue. Whatever help can be given to this family will be given. We are doing it and will do it. There is no need for the national president. The family is in touch with us, we have told them too.” This statement given by the SP MP is now going viral. Courtesy : Zee News Note: This news is originally published on https://zeenews.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Akhilesh Yadav claims Uttar Pradesh tops nation in Dalit atrocities under BJP rule
BJP leaders continue to operate with a pre-independence mentality and are inherently opposed to the Constitution, says SP chief Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed that under the BJP government, Uttar Pradesh has become the number one state in the country in terms of atrocities against Dalits. In a post on X, the former chief minister alleged that Dalit leaders in the BJP are never given real authority and it is held by a select few. “UP has become number one in terms of atrocities on Dalits under the BJP government,” said Yadav, who also shared a video clip of a news report which claimed that Dalit atrocities in the state were on the rise. The question is why most of the crimes against Dalits, especially Dalit women, take place in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra, he said. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Monday claimed that under the BJP government, Uttar Pradesh has become the number one state in the country in terms of atrocities against Dalits. In a post on X, the former chief minister alleged that Dalit leaders in the BJP are never given real authority and it is held by a select few. “UP has become number one in terms of atrocities on Dalits under the BJP government,” said Yadav, who also shared a video clip of a news report which claimed that Dalit atrocities in the state were on the rise. The question is why most of the crimes against Dalits, especially Dalit women, take place in BJP-ruled states like Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Odisha and Maharashtra, he said. “The BJP is fundamentally a party of authoritarians and the mindset of its members is deeply feudal in which there is only humiliation and oppression for the poor, marginalised, Dalits, backward classes, minorities, women and tribals,” Yadav said. BJP leaders continue to operate with a pre-independence mentality and are inherently opposed to the Constitution, he charged. “In both party organisation and government, only a select few hold real power. Others are relegated to menial tasks like carrying banners and flags,” he said. Yadav claimed that Dalits and those from other backward castes may be given symbolic positions in the BJP but they are never entrusted with actual authority. “Elections are fought in their name but they are not given the chief minister’s chair or real leadership roles,” the SP leader said. Yadav urged the Dalit community to reject the BJP. He said, “Dalits today must say — we do not want the BJP!” Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by The Telegraph Online staff and has been published from a syndicated feed. Courtesy : The Telegraph Note: This news is originally published on https://thetelegraph.com/bha and is used purely for non-profit/non-commercial purposes, especially human rights.
Race for Dalit outreach intensifies in Uttar Pradesh
Race for Dalit outreach intensifies in Uttar Pradeshur Heading The race for outreach towards Dalits intensified among the Opposition players in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday (April 20, 2025) with Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav alleging that the State was on top of atrocities committed against the Dalit community. The SP chief is pitching his PDA (Pichhda, Dalit, Alpsankhyak) formula as a forum for Dalit upliftment against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. “Uttar Pradesh is number one on atrocities on Dalits. A Dalit was burnt to death in Prayagraj. Our PDA platform is a forum to connect people from all communities, especially focused on marginalised groups. If BJP had won 400 seats in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, then today rifles and swords would have been waving on the streets,” said Mr. Yadav, addressing media in Prayagraj. Putting up data claiming lesser representation of PDA, meaning Pichhda, Dalits and Alpsankhyak, acronym for Backwards, Dalit and Minority, in key officials’ postings in districts, he said, “total postings in Agra are 48, out of which PDA is 15, in Mainpuri out of 15 key officials, representation of PDA is three. Prayagraj will also have similar data,” he alleged, hinting at caste-based postings. Mr. Yadav accused the BJP of neglecting officials hailing from PDA social groups in key government postings. On the other hand, Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati cautioned the Dalit community and hit out particularly at the SP alleging that like the Congress and the BJP, it could never become a true well-wisher of Dalits-Bahujans. Calling the SP as extreme casteist party, recalling the infamous 1995 Lucknow guest house incident, the BSP leader called it a murderous attack on herself and described the previous SP government renaming new districts and educational institutions created in honour of Dalit icons as acts that are impossible to forgive by the community. Mayawati cautions Dalits amid SP outreach, terms statements as politics of narrow selfishness “Like Congress, BJP etc., SP too, far from doing any real welfare and upliftment of the Bahujans, especially the Dalits, by giving them their constitutional rights, has no sympathy for the community. The SP’s betrayal of BSP, murderous attack on its leadership on June 2, tearing the Bill on reservation in promotion in Parliament, changing the names of new districts, parks, educational and medical colleges created in honour of their (Dalit) saints, gurus and great men etc. are such blatant casteist acts which are impossible to forgive,” she wrote on X. She added, “While BSP has been successful to a great extent in its mission of eliminating the caste system through its continuous efforts, the SP is trying in every way to spoil it for the fulfillment of its narrow political interests. People must be cautious,”. Reacting sharply to the statement by Ms. Mayawati, the SP said the party was the most potent opposition political force in the State fighting against atrocities committed on Dalits and raising the community’s concerns democratically across all platforms. Fight for the Dalit vote hots up in Uttar Pradesh “If you look at the parliamentary proceedings, our party raised issues of Dalit and marginalised interests continuously and forcefully, which shows our commitment to social justice, and it has sent a positive message among the marginalised sections. We stood on our promise made in the run-up to the 2024 Lok Sabha campaign, about fighting with all our might for the deprived sections and not allowing any constitutional amendments that might jeopardise the interests of the minorities, and Dalits. The BSP’s discomfort stems from the success of the SP outreach and Akhilesh Yadav Ji’s appeal among Dalits and youth”, said Ram Pratap Singh, SP spokesperson. ‘Dalits key to outcome’ Analysts point out that the outreach is aimed at getting traction of the community, which is in high numbers in Uttar Pradesh. “With approximately 21% population, Dalit electorate is the most pivotal vote in Uttar Pradesh, key to any electoral outcome, all parties be it the BJP, the SP, the BSP and the Congress are making efforts to gain traction with this key community. But the bitter truth remains that even after 75 years of Independence, no political party has a solution or a road map to uplift the Dalits, making the community still untouchable,” said Ajit Kumar Jha, veteran political analyst. Courtesy: By Mayank Kumar, The Hindu